Aurora Magazine - December 2017

When I first heard the word, which seems like only a year or so ago, I took it for a solipsism or rather, perhaps, one of those quasi-existent words that people use because they think they sound more impressive than the common alternative. But as people continued to seek my ‘agreance’ on this or that, I realised we had a new social phenomenon on our hands. Nonetheless, I suspected the word didn’t really exist.

For many of us it’s a joyous time, celebrating the birth of Christ and encompassing family traditions, celebrations with friends, gift-giving and the sharing of food. However, for the 10,000 children and young people living in Permanency Support Programs (foster care) in Newcastle, the Hunter and Central Coast, it can be a very different story.

On November 5, 2014, the Yula-Punaal Aboriginal Education and Healing Centre, a purpose-built facility to support the Aboriginal community through cultural education, was opened in Mandalong, NSW. On the same day, the Yula-Punaal Trades Training Centre was also opened to offer pre-trade courses to local secondary students in hospitality, horticulture and land management.

There’s no doubting Taree Community Kitchen’s volunteers and donors provide an exceptional service. Since CatholicCare took over the operation in 2015, 10,000 meals have been served. CatholicCare recently invited Deputy Premier of NSW, John Barilaro, and Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, along to celebrate this special milestone… and they made it a party to remember!

In late 2015, I decided to take myself away to the Mediterranean island of Malta to stay with a Jesuit community in Mosta, a village in the centre of the island. There, I took time to enter into a 30-day silent retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola with the assistance of a spiritual director.

The Christmas period can be a stressful time of searching for the perfect present, yet many of those gifts are unwanted. When most of us have more than we need, an unwanted gift represents a significant waste and serves as a profound symbol of the wealth gap between western countries and those living in poverty.

Earlier this year my husband, Paul, and I moved from a small country parish to a larger parish with far greater numbers in the community. After initial trepidation and the passage of time, we are feeling more settled.

The word ‘Sikh’ means a learner or disciple and ‘Guru’ means enlightener, a teacher-prophet. The Sikh faith was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) and his divine torch was carried by nine gurus who followed him. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th successor, who left for heavenly abode in 1708, gave Sikhs a unique, indisputable and distinct identity − unshorn hair covered with a turban.

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